Jazz star Gregory Porter will return to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall

The star continues to perform to sell out audiences around the world, achieving international recognition and acclaim with both his Grammy winning albums Liquid Spirit and Take Me To The Alley.

His voice has been described as ‘impossible to resist’ and last year he released a record that paid tribute to Nat King Cole, whom he described as having an important influence on his childhood and career.

Gregory says: “I was listening to Nat as a child, without my father around, these songs they hit me”.

The record was described as a personal tribute to Cole, whose ‘words were the life lessons, words of wisdom and fatherly advice I needed.

“My mother and grandmother were very proud of him. He was the first black man to have a television show. His image was beautiful, his style was beautiful. This was a different image of a black man.

“Song choices were the most difficult because Nat King Cole has such a huge discography that we really had to narrow it down and choose. Another challenge was containing my emotions, literally this was just a dream come true, it felt so good. I literally heard his voice in my head.”

The album was recorded at AIR Studios in London, England, with a 70-piece orchestra and was the first time Gregory recorded with a full orchestra.

Gregory has enjoyed a remarkable rise and has used his platform to speak out against racism and bigotry.

He has been disappointed by changes in the American political system and the election of Donald Trump.

“It’s been interesting to watch my country from a distance. In a way you can see it clearer.

“I watched my President, I watched the response to some of the issues and the protests and without question it is vexing.

“I have friends who are on the ground, who are involved in those protests.

“One thing I can say for sure: In the next years it will provoke a deep artistic movement that will push back against hatred, bigotry and even the idea of normalising it . . . of making it even slightly acceptable.

“I think artists will become activated and motivated to sing, with a deep feeling to right some of these wrongs we’ve been seeing in a few months.

“It has been made more comfortable with Donald Trump in the White House. He needs to figure that out and we as a country need to figure that out.”